Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
March 14, 2022

Ukraine - Officials Announce False Flag Attack - Sanctions Hit Back

There is significant danger that the Ukraine, the UK or the U.S. will launch a false flag attack in Ukraine.

People have started to take note of the directional fear mongering that is coming from various 'western' officials.

The Sirius Report @thesiriusreport - 23:36 UTC · Mar 12, 2022
Setting the scene for a false flag?

Polish President:
If Putin uses weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine, NATO will have to think seriously about what to do.

You would have to be sub 100 IQ not to see what is going on.

To which I responded:

Moon of Alabama @MoonofA - 17:56 UTC · Mar 13, 2022
They are indeed doing this on all channels.
IMHO an upcoming false flag attempt to get NATO into the fight.

Historian and Russia expert Gilbert Doctorow points into the same direction:

Warning: it is “highly likely” the United States is now about to carry out a ‘false flag’ operation in Ukraine in which it will accuse the Russians of using chemical weapons.
...
The caption which yahoo.com is now carrying reads as follows:

USA Today: Russia could be preparing for chemical weapons attack; 35 killed in strike on base near Lviv: Live updates

Now why would Russia stage a chemical weapons attack in Ukraine? The idea defies all reason. Russia has vast possibilities of destroying Ukraine that it has not deployed to date precisely to avoid civilian casualties. These include cyber attack, electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and more intense use of its airpower which has been restrained due to shortage of smart bombs and reluctance to use munitions that might cause greater collateral damage.

Given these manifest signs of Russian caution in staging the war, even at the cost of greater casualties among its own troops and slower progress in a campaign that is very time sensitive, one would have to be utterly mad to consider using universally banned chemical weapons. I rest my case: any so-called chemical attack which may be staged in Ukraine in coming days can only be the dirty work of the United States and its agents.

Having seen how easy it was to deceive the 'western' media by staging a fake hospital attack one can easily understand how a fake 'chemical attack by Russia' would lead to a public stampede that would push NATO into the Ukraine war.

Meanwhile Patrick Lancaster reports from Donetsk:

Patrick Lancaster @PLnewstoday - 10:47 UTC · Mar 14, 2022

#BREAKING Dozens Killed By Ukrainian Cluster Bomb Attack On Center Donetsk. Full report coming soon
video

The U.S. is trying to pressure China to join their anti-Russian campaign. Yesterday 'anonymous officials' claimed, without evidence, that Russia had asked China for military and economic aid.

Moon of Alabama @MoonofA - 20:21 UTC · Mar 13, 2022

"U.S. officials said .." equals "Guaranteed to be a lie .."

Quoted Tweet:

Michael Birnbaum @michaelbirnbaum · 17h
NEW, and BIG -> Russia has turned to China for military equipment and aid in the weeks since it began its invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials said. @nakashimae scoop. https://washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/..

"Scoop" now means picking up the phone when some official calls you to plant a lie.

Russia is exporting weapons to China, not importing weapons from it. China has now confirmed that there were no such Russian requests:

Beijing blasted Washington’s recent allegations as disinformation that Russia sought military assistance from China to conduct its special operation in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Monday.

"The allegations on the matter disseminated by the US are false information," the diplomat specified.

The first story on this also includes this lie:

In recent days, Chinese diplomats, state media organizations and government agencies have used a range of platforms and official social media accounts to amplify a conspiracy theory that says the Pentagon has been financing biological and chemical weapons labs in Ukraine.

That is not a conspiracy theory but, as Tulsi Gabbard points out, a hard fact which even the U.S. government now admits.

The British press took note of it:

Vladimir Putin could unleash biological weapon from seized Ukraine lab, experts fear

The U.S. is delusional in its attempts to deter China from working with Russia:

Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, is scheduled to meet on Monday in Rome with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s elite Politburo and director of the party’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

Mr. Sullivan intends to warn Mr. Yang about any future Chinese efforts to bolster Russia in its war or undercut Ukraine, the United States and their partners.

“We are communicating directly, privately to Beijing that there will absolutely be consequences for large-scale sanctions evasion efforts or support to Russia to backfill them,” Mr. Sullivan said on CNN on Sunday.

“We will not allow that to go forward and allow there to be a lifeline to Russia from these economic sanctions from any country, anywhere in the world,” he said.

China will of course continue to have good relations with Russia. It is not for the U.S. 'to allow' or disallow China to trade with Russia. The Biden administration has nothing it could do about it. It should stop its campaign and think about how it can dig itself out of the huge hole it has jumped into.

Reviewing the trade shock 'western' societies will now experience because of their extensive sanctions campaign against Russia Yves Smith concludes:

Although the complexity of this situation makes it impossible to make any forecasts, consider: a worst case scenario is much much worse than stagflation. Just wrap your mind around the consequences the merely the two outcomes described above: a fair bit of famine and supply shortfalls, even potentially problems with maintaining some critical infrastructure due to chip scarcity. Some of that productive capacity loss could become permanent due to business failures.

And let us remind you … so far we are discussing only what the West has done to itself. What happens if Russia goes full Smoot-Hawley and retaliates, or engages in the passive aggressive version, as in no formal pronunciations, just supplies go to friendlies and the West gets chocked down, not 100% but enough to feel like that.

The Democratic Party is in the process of executing a controlled flight into terrain. Too bad that we are along for the ride.

Yesterday and today there seemed to be only minor Russian movement on the battlefield. Presumably Russia is regrouping its forces for the next steps. What those are going to be is for anyone to guess. They will come as soon as the current negotiations between Kiev and Moscow fail. The U.S. will see for that to happen.

Posted by b on March 14, 2022 at 14:27 UTC | Permalink

Comments
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Good news?

Минобороны России: Мариуполь разблокирован. Спецназ ликвидировал основные силы националистических формирований на позициях в жилых кварталах по периметру города.
С 15:00 открыты гуманитарные коридоры, началась массовая эвакуация населения

(translation) Russian defense ministry: Mariupol blockade broken. Spetznaz has finished liquidating main forces of national guard in positions situated in the citizen's districts.
3pm all humanitarian corridors open.

Posted by: Boo | Mar 14 2022 14:32 utc | 1

Moving this here 'cause Chicken Little's false flag needs an audience.

Ukraine's Zelensky To Address Full US Congress

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/ukrainian-president-zelenskyy-virtually-address-congress-rcna19909

The finest theater money can buy.

Posted by: too scents | Mar 14 2022 14:38 utc | 2

Thanks for the timely journalism b

Everybody got FEAR yet?

That is what you need to have in the West to swallow the coming global geo-political negotiations that leave the God of Mammon cult still in charge.

There will be representatives of the people on one side of the table and the representatives of the God of Mammon cult on the other. What is agreed to may only be a stepping stone on the way to a better world but it is not the one that humanity needs and deserves at this point.

All those emotions expressed, I see the world in free fall and it is too early to tell what might come of what we are watching.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 14 2022 14:41 utc | 3

...how easy it was to deceive the 'western' media...

Chuckle.

Come on, they are in on it, part of the plan, obedient little troopers, been that for long time. What media in west says doesn't matter any more.

Posted by: Abe | Mar 14 2022 14:44 utc | 4

Thank you for warning about this. Very important.

Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 14 2022 14:49 utc | 5

It's not just the plebs that are brain washed.
All the politicians are fully assimilated also.
No one seems to get that their emotionally incontinent actions will kill us all!
And for what?
Lot's of brain damage apparent.
Was it Covid treatment?

Posted by: Jpc | Mar 14 2022 14:53 utc | 6

I don't see how any additional March Madness by the warmongwers will be able to compete with the very longstanding institution here within the Empire of NCAA and NBA March Madness which nowadays extends into April and May. And as Abe observes @4, who believes BigLie Media anymore? IMO, the World knows quite well where the battle lines are actually drawn. IMO, the public remains capable of connecting the dot of rising prices for everything with that of waging global war on China and Russia, with the vast majority ignoring the bullshit.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 14:55 utc | 7

One feels a 'very, very slight sympathy' for Zelensky. This is one shitshow I bet he wishes he never got involved in and there is now no way out for him: Hell and highwater - do as the USA tells you or the Nazi elements will kill you. Do what Russia wants and your end is guaranteed. Whatever happens his future does not look good, eventual sanctuary in a 'friendly' state is on the cards as his best option, with eventual assassination possible.

Posted by: Robert Wursthaus | Mar 14 2022 14:55 utc | 8

Just a reminder that this Ukraine debacle started in 2014, with the U$A's meddling.....


https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/06/04/how-and-why-the-u-s-government-perpetrated-the-2014-coup-in-ukraine/

Posted by: vetinLA | Mar 14 2022 14:56 utc | 9

How do I make donation to MoA from the USA?

Posted by: LawTread | Mar 14 2022 14:56 utc | 10

Look, any false flag is to smear Russia in public opinion. NATO won't get involved because they don't want to see an end to their civilization. It is all ham fisted psyop.

Posted by: Norb | Mar 14 2022 14:58 utc | 11

Desperation seems to be all one sided (the West):

“We will not allow that to go forward and allow there to be a lifeline to Russia from these economic sanctions from any country, anywhere in the world,” he said.

The US feels they completely control everything and that this control is not just slipping, but ending! They are in a corner and the various factions in the US are in the fight for life mode.

IMHO the true danger is that all of the various factions of deep state control are individually " ..... in the process of executing a (UN)controlled flight into terrain."

We are in dangerous times, indeed!

Posted by: James Cook | Mar 14 2022 14:59 utc | 12

local gas prices holding steady for the last few days at about 4 bucks a gallon. I'm afraid this is the calm before the financial meltdown.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 15:00 utc | 13

if Zelensky is extremely lucky he will get a talk show on MSNBC.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 15:00 utc | 14

"uncontrolled flight into terrain"--what is that phrase used to describe planes nosediving into the ground? vertical insertion or something.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 15:07 utc | 15

from the previous thread . . cue the white helmets

Alastair Crooke said. . .
Write the script for a new scenario; direct its production; and then stage it on video. Many may disbelieve the resulting piece, but there is nothing for them to do, except to watch it in mute, frustrated silence. Game over. You have ‘won’.

>President Joe Biden warned on Friday that Russia will pay a "severe price" if the country uses chemical weapons in Ukraine.
>National security advisor: Russia claiming that US, Ukraine are using chemical weapons is 'a tell' that Russia could be 'preparing to do so'
>US State Secretary Blinken has warned of a provocative "false" chemical weapon attack by Russia before it invaded Ukraine in the "coming days."
>The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia calling Friday's U.N. Security Council hearing to spread lies and disinformation about Ukraine and chemical weapons. Greenfield told the international body that the U.S. believes Russia could use chemical or biological agents for assassinations as part of a false flag incident or to support tactical military operations. And we are deeply concerned that Russia's calling for this meeting is a potential false flag effort in action — exactly the kind we have been warning about, including from Secretary Blinken here in the security council last month," she said.
>Intelligence points to heightened risk of Russian chemical attack in Ukraine, officials say
>More than two weeks into the war in Ukraine, and the unthinkable is not only being thought, it’s being said out loud: could Putin use nuclear weapons? The Ukrainian forces’ tenacity in fighting back has been extraordinary, but could it make Putin even more dangerous? And what happens if he fails with conventional weapons? Will he use unconventional ones next?

Posted by: Don Bacon | Mar 14 2022 15:07 utc | 16

so there are no biolabs,
there are biolabs but only defensive, that could never be used as offensive.
but, if putin gets hold of them, he can just exploit these defensive materials and break hell the next day.

this is mindfuck

Posted by: dersu-uzala | Mar 14 2022 15:16 utc | 17

Kung Flu meets Kharkivirus!!!

Posted by: Mr Green Jeans | Mar 14 2022 15:19 utc | 18

An essential part of the upcoming US false flag production is the certainty that Russia is losing and desperate.
. . .from the Pentagon

Ukrainian resistance continues to be "stiff and determined," a senior defense official said today at a Pentagon press briefing.
"Frankly, [the Ukrainians are] being very strategic about how they're defending and where they are putting their resources where they're most needed. They are doing it quickly. They are being adaptive and nimble," the official said, noting they are using hit-and-run tactics to great advantage.
The Defense Department has surmised that the Russian intelligence apparatus didn't fully factor in the degree to which Russian troops were going to be resisted, the official said.
Also, the DOD believes that the Russians haven't properly planned and executed their logistics and sustainment efforts, the official noted.

That's the part the warmongers will focus on, being of limited time, with a certain agenda, and they won't read on. . .
Not since World War II have Russian forces executed such a large-scale ground operation using combined arms of air, land and sea, so it’s understandable, in a way, that their planning and execution has faltered. Combined arms integration is difficult to execute in any scenario by any country, the official said.
Having said that, the official believed that the Russians are "going to work through those challenges, and we're beginning to see them do that." . . .here

Who might have thought that the Pentagon would make more sense than the other administration functionaries? As on no-fly zone?

Posted by: Don Bacon | Mar 14 2022 15:21 utc | 19

Robert Wursthaus | Mar 14 2022 14:55 utc | 8
Zelensky seems more like Slim Pickens/Major Kong riding his missile to nuclear glory. probably never been happier or more fulfilled in his life. how can Ukraine's standup comedy scene compare to this stage?

the chance to play a role, to appear, on the stage is part of the herd instinct. We tend to think that we are leading if we are getting attention. but how do we know if we are not the blind leading the blind, as President Standup surely is?

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Mar 14 2022 15:22 utc | 20

I don't see what the use of a false flag would be for the western powers. NATO simply can't intervene. Sure, a false flag would cause more media hate, but at the same time it would highlight the impotence of NATO, who will do nothing.

I think that this talk is just narrative as usual, bolstering the illusion of NATO power. The illusion offered now is that NATO CAN do something. No chemical attack appears, ergo, "we warned him off".

I also think Doctorow got a call from someone. His wilful misrepresentation of the opinions of Chinese media, as someone noted in a previous thread, is significant.

Posted by: veto | Mar 14 2022 15:25 utc | 21

Posted this in the wrong thread

Gonzalo Lira : A False Flag Is Coming

Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 14 2022 15:27 utc | 22

Look, any false flag is to smear Russia in public opinion. NATO won't get involved because they don't want to see an end to their civilization. It is all ham fisted psyop.
Posted by: Norb 11
I concur,but in the meantime I worry about a bacterial armageddon released by a desperate fanatic faction in the Ukraine

The drone invasion this morning does stoke fear of a deadly delivery that could spread beyond their intended targets.
Time will tell if any of them were laced or reached a target.

Posted by: ld | Mar 14 2022 15:27 utc | 23

Looks like the Chechen special forces made short work of the Mariupol nazi's.

https://twitter.com/RWApodcast
The Russian MOD says that today DPR forces, supported by the Russian military, destroyed almost all of the Ukrainian positions in the suburbs of Mariupol, with Special Forces "eliminating the main neo-Nazi forces in residential areas along the perimeter of the city".

"The successful operation to unblock the city made it possible to open humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave from 3 p.m. today and to begin the mass evacuation of the population, which had been held hostage by the neo-Nazis for a long time."

"To evacuate Mariupol residents, 4 convoys were formed with a total of 200 buses, 50 of which have already arrived in Mariupol. All Mariupol residents wishing to be evacuated will be taken to temporary accommodation centers."

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 14 2022 15:27 utc | 24

* Chinese media statement in response to Jake Sullivan's (US NSC advisor) announced threats vs China. Presumably threat of US forcing EU business to reduce or halt trade with China, as US isn't in a position to do so itself.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202203/1254841.shtml

* Iran talks have been decisively sabotaged from several angles now -- Pence pledging to Times of Israel that next GOP administration would reverse any agreement, US refusing to exempt Iran from "secondary" sanctions nominally aimed at third countries (in particular Iran's more reliable partners, China and Russia), and Saudi Arabia carrying out a mass execution, some of which are interpreted as aimed at Iran. Iranian missile strike vs alleged Israeli facility in Iraqi Kurdistan seems to indicate they've given up hope for a deal. This makes way for Iran's integration into Eurasia, which significantly affects the complex strategic picture in South Asia.

US threats vs China and India in this context would seem poorly thought out, to say the least. The ongoing saga of terrorist bombings against parliamentarians, sabotaging Iraq's government formation, is in the mix as well.

* Ukraine is seeing a reality check for optimists on both sides this week. The tempo of the war is slowing down, more RF forces specializing in urban warfare are brought in. At the same time UA forces west of the DNR LOC don't appear to be taking advantage of their opportunity to leave. Instead they set the stage for a bloody ending in which they will eventually become surrounded. Contrary to some, UA forces are actively defending against encirclement over a large area, and they are able to slow it down but not stop it. So this large encirclement looks to be a methodical and time consuming process. In towns where the entrenched UA forces are led by the more extreme nationalists, when it comes that their last days are near, they are liable to try to take out as much of the hostage local population as they can, out of spite.

Posted by: ptb | Mar 14 2022 15:29 utc | 25

Don Bacon | Mar 14 2022 15:21 utc | 19
i was too young to see the Vietnam media circus in real time, but why don't peoples' minds go back to at least Iraq/Afghanistan and have some suspicion about the same recycled crap being shoved in their faces?

people who believe that life is about competition are the easiest to manipulate in the world. just tell them their participation in the perpetuation of the state machinery is "successful competition," throw some money at them, and they'll do or say anything the boss wants.

in the US, people's home lives are so fucked up that as adults, they are desperate for approval, from the boss.

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Mar 14 2022 15:29 utc | 26

Artillery is used in battle to soften up a foe before the main thrust of tanks and infantry are used.
One can liken the constant fear bombs from Fauci and company to artillery fire as
Americans have been softened up psychologically to be even more accepting of authoritative propaganda re:Russia/Ukraine

Don’t let the war in Ukraine distract you from the Scamdemic cover up

Posted by: librul | Mar 14 2022 15:29 utc | 27

@LawTread #10:

How do I make donation to MoA from the USA?

Read this.

Posted by: S | Mar 14 2022 15:30 utc | 28

There was an amusing observation about potential default on Russian debt. Pay it back in rubles. Then, they must be spent in Russia. Also, Russia can issue those rubles almost for 'free' because there's no expectation to spend them.

Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 14 2022 15:37 utc | 29

The US sends money, arms and mercenaries , but mainly has to keep the psychological war on the populace at home, and going very strong with nonstop propaganda. This is mandatory in order to keep the USG corruption headed in the same direction and the people dumbed down.

Ed Bernays and Freud were very good at the Phsych thing, but the Talmud Rabbis were the best at using propaganda, that's why the American Christian religion got neutered and taken over so fast.

Posted by: GMC | Mar 14 2022 15:45 utc | 30

Die wissen natürlich, dass die Chinesen bei den Sanktionen nicht mitmachen. Müssen aber n Grund für die Nichtwirkung (bzw. Für den miesen Output auf die Verbündeten) der eigenen Sanktionen haben.

Posted by: S.B. | Mar 14 2022 15:48 utc | 31

Bernays was far better at psychology than Freud, but Freud was a successful con artist, it's just his product didn't work. thanatos prequel.
Bernays and the guy that sold Rockefeller as a friend of the working man after the Ludlow Massacre were unfortunately far more successful.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 15:48 utc | 32

@ b. .
The U.S. is delusional in its attempts to deter China from working with Russia:
My morning chuckle. Thanks.

Sanctions and fake claims are the weapon of choice. The Texan cowboy – all hat, no horse or cattle. I recall during the Afghanistan war NATO had to lease Russian helicopters.

As some astute analysts observe, the Ukraine is the battering ram to be used against Russia then China.

Twice in a Century: Russia Faces a War of Annihilation

https://www.unz.com/mwhitney/twice-in-a-century-russia-faces-a-war-of-annihilation/
(with original emphasis)

[Griffin is right. ]The war in Ukraine is not about Ukraine, it’s about geopolitics and, in particular, the steady erosion of Washington’s power on the global stage. That’s why we are seeing this wretched attempt to crush Russia on the way to encircling China. It’s pure desperation, and it’s gotten considerably worse since the February 4 summit between Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, when the two leaders announced a new “global governance system,” that would bind Europe and Asia together through “infrastructure connectivity”, high-speed rail, and collaborative distribution of energy resources. 

Russia and China are allies on the biggest free trade project in history, which is why Uncle Sam is doing everything he can to rock-the-boat. Here’s more from Alfred McCoy’s article at Counterpunch:

“In a landmark 5,300-word statement, Xi and Putin proclaimed the “world is going through momentous changes,” creating a “redistribution of power” and “a growing demand for… leadership” (which Beijing and Moscow clearly intended to provide). After denouncing Washington’s ill-concealed “attempts at hegemony,” the two sides agreed to “oppose the…
interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states under the pretext of protecting democracy and human rights.”

To build an alternative system for global economic growth in Eurasia, the leaders planned to merge Putin’s projected “Eurasian Economic Union” with Xi’s already ongoing trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative to promote “greater interconnectedness between the Asia Pacific and Eurasian regions.”
Proclaiming their relations “superior to political and military alliances of the Cold War era,” an oblique reference to the tense Mao-Stalin relationship, the two leaders asserted that their entente has “no limits… no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation.”
On strategic issues, the two parties were adamantly opposed to the expansion of NATO, any move toward independence for Taiwan, and “color revolutions” such as the one that had ousted Moscow’s Ukrainian client in 2014.” (“The Geopolitics of the Ukraine War,” Alfred W. McCoy, Counterpunch)

How does this relate to the war in Ukraine?

It shows that Uncle Sam is trying to destroy Russia so he can project power into Central Asia and maintain Washington’s grip on global power. Who is going control the most populous and prosperous region of the next century, Asia? That’s the question that guides Washington’s actions in Ukraine.

Simply put, Washington’s plan is to crush Russia first and then move on to China. This explains why the US has imposed the most comprehensive and vicious sanctions of all time. The gloves have come off and we are beginning to see that Washington is embroiled in a scorched earth campaign to strangle the Russian economy, crash the Russian markets, slash vital oil and gas revenues, freeze foreign reserves, seize privately-owned assets, terminate the flow of foreign capital, torpedo multi-billion dollar pipeline projects, prevent access to the capital markets, send the ruble off a cliff, demonize the Russian leadership and remove Russia from the community of nations. At the same time, the US has increased the flow of lethal weaponry to Ukraine while the CIA continues to advise and train far-right militants who will be used to launch an anti-Russian insurgency.[.]


Today Blinky will be schooled by Mr. Yang. It takes many after school lessons for dumb wits to learn 2+2 =4.

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 14 2022 15:50 utc | 33

The similarities with the liberation of Aleppo are striking.

I interpret this as meaning that we are nearing a very favorable inflexion point. In Syria, every time the Syrian government and Russia were about to score a major success, Western hysteria was raised to 11. Here, it probably means that Marioupol is going to fall quite soon.

I would like to point out two major French articles :

- One from our Joint chief of staff Thierry Brinkhard, who wrote in a letter to all the senior officers that he was fearing a catastrophic collapse of the Ukrainian forces. In his words, they have no operative reserves and are running out of supplies.

- Another news quoted the intelligence assessment of a NATO country which pronosticates basically the same thing, with a quick collapse of the Ukronazis.

I try to remain prudent, but we could interpret this as a sign that on the ground the situation is evolving and the ukie forces are reaching their breaking point.

Posted by: Micron | Mar 14 2022 15:52 utc | 34

Went looking at the MFA website for additional info related to Ryabkov's curios statement to RIA Novosti on the 12th that was discussed in yesterday's thread:

"The issue now is to provide for reaching the aims, which were set by our authorities before launching a special military operation." [My Emphasis]

Two other interview transcripts are provided for those conducted today, but interestingly not Ryabkov's. THose are, "Interview of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Oleg Syromolotov to TASS news agency, March 14, 2022" and "Interview of director of the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Pavel Ilyichev to the international news agency "Russia Today", March 14, 2022", neither of which provided any help with Ryabkov's statement but did provide some info on the current situation, but nothing earth shaking.

Today, Lavrov met with Al-Thani of Qatar and provided this statement to media, but no Q&A was conducted. Relations with Qatar I'd describe as normal.

Today, Putin had a working meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of Staff Dmitry Grigorenko that dealt with a reform introduced in 2019 to reduce the level of red tape constraining businesses that has progressed very well and aided the economy.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 15:52 utc | 35

ptb | Mar 14 2022 15:29 utc | 25

Russia controls the air and with that they control what moves by rail and road. The main Ukraine force is pinned in position with no resupply. Its just a matter of time.
The Chechen special forces trained in urban combat are not something brought in because the war is tougher going than the planners thought. They were in Ukraine early and were ready to do their part when the time came.
As for what is going on in Ukraine, how Russia is positioned and how Ukraine is positioned, watch the Lira video linked @22.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 14 2022 15:53 utc | 36

This is sincerely funny in a "where are the customers yachts?" kind of a way.

Bloomberg reports Options Traders Who Correctly Bet Against Russia Can’t Cash Out"

...

Instead, in both accounts, she found herself hamstrung and unable to exercise her put contracts on the VanEck Russia ETF, some of which are set to expire Friday. The puts were worth about $6,000 combined when trading in the fund was halted.

“I’m not a Wall Street person, I’m a regular person, so it’s a lot of money to me.” Stockman said. “It’s even more frustrating that it was a good trade and it was a good position to take, and I know that I was right.”

Stockman, 38, is one of an untold number of options investors whose seemingly prescient bets against Russian securities may wind up worthless.

...

Posted by: too scents | Mar 14 2022 15:54 utc | 37

Here are the two articles, in French :

Article 1

Le général Burkhard craint un effondrement soudain des forces ukrainiennes

Posted by: Micron | Mar 14 2022 15:56 utc | 38

The current round of the Ukrainian Civil War has not yet reached the level of violence and killing as the 2014-15 round.

In the previous thread Richard Steven Hack asks:

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 14 2022 6:58 utc | 240

Just read the Russian MoD latest update. They claim 1,267 tanks and other armored vehicles destroyed. According to one article I read, out of the 6,500 tanks Ukraine allegedly has, they had about 2,500 operational. The Guardian claims only 57 tanks destroyed so far.

An example of how stupid the propaganda is. Ukraine has actually lost close to half its tanks (and probably APCs, although the latter probably aren't being targeted as heavily since Russia is trying to avoid unnecessary Ukrainian casualties), but the Guardian thinks only a tiny number are destroyed. It's ludicrous.

Lostarmour.info has a very reliable database of armor losses in 21st century wars. They started with Donbass, but now also cover other conflicts. As of today there are 3186 items from Iraq, 2113 from Yemen, 1972 from Syria, 1095 from Afghanistan, 1060 from Libya and so on.

As of February 12 there were 1502 pieces of armor listed, of which 1110 were totally destroyed and 392 taken as trophies by the other side. (In most cases by the Novorossiyan Armed Forces.)

In the last 30 days 427 items have been added, of which 295 have been destroyed and 132 taken as trophies. This number however excludes all Russian losses, which "will be published after the conflict". (NAF losses are included.)

I have not been following pro-Ukrainian channels, so I have no idea of alleged Russian losses. No doubt they are alleged to be "huge". For confirmation we need geolocated photographic evidence from real, non-fake sources. The real videos of Russian losses I have seen mainly show attacks on soft targets like trucks and supply convoys. Very little destroyed armor. Ukraine has some trophies, tanks abandoned because of lack of fuel or something. A Pantsir with a broken wheel set on fire by peasants.

According to official UN numbers, in the 8 years of war until this February there had been 16,000 killed. Of these at least 4,000 were civilians. (My estimate is that the real number of casualties may be over 40,000.)

Russian sources now claim that the Ukrainian army has lost over 8,000 men killed. On March 2 Russia acknowledged 498 killed on their side.

Civilians killed amount to 500 or more. Taking into account the 20 civilians killed in Donetsk today, the number of civilians killed by Ukrainian shelling in the old territory of the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics is nearly 100. There may also be a large number of civilians killed in the "newly liberated" areas. These are mostly unaccounted for so far.

Posted by: Petri Krohn | Mar 14 2022 15:57 utc | 39

Posted by: veto | Mar 14 2022 15:25 utc | 21

100%

Posted by: Milos | Mar 14 2022 15:58 utc | 40

what's the status of the claim that China refused a Russian request for some military aid? fake news or did it happen, and if so, why?

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 16:00 utc | 41

Posted by: veto | Mar 14 2022 15:25 utc | 21


I am not convinced of this. I believe that there is a split in the White House between the fanatical neocons--Blinken, Nuland, Sullivan, etc.--and more "level-headed" (hey, everything is relative!) Pentagon generals. I do believe that, at some level, the neocons desire to stoke a NATO war with Russia but hope to contain this war to Europe. I think the Pentagon generals think this is a bad idea.

Posted by: WJ | Mar 14 2022 16:03 utc | 42

@ Robert Wursthaus #8

World leaders and Zelensky himself realize that he is only an actor. I don't expect he will be treated harshly when this is over. They may fake his death as part of the script though.

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Mar 14 2022 16:04 utc | 43

I would bet 90% fake news. For the life of me I can't see why Russia would need to turn to China for military aid. Eventually there would be two items which would be interesting : drones, or guided munitions, but as someone mentioned until now it was Russia who was exporting weapons to China, not the reverse, and if we're talking about new weapons soldiers would need at least weeks of training to use them properly, not even talking about the logistics issue of delivering it from the other side of the world. By the time they would arrive and Russia is ready to use it, the Ukie army will probably no more.

So it seems a harebrained scheme, a bit like the Polish Mig-29, which leads me to suspect it's the same brilliant american minds behind all this.

Posted by: Micron | Mar 14 2022 16:06 utc | 44

this is mindfuck
Posted by: dersu-uzala | Mar 14 2022 15:16 utc | 17

No this is the scene setup before foreplay, the scene where the cable guy opens the door to do the install in the sorority house.

Contrary to rumour, PornHub was not banned in Russia. That would be a win for them.

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Mar 14 2022 16:13 utc | 45

@pretzelattack #13
The UAE and Saudi Arabia jawboned to shortcircuit the short term over-exuberance of the Robinhood commodity traders.
It isn't to their interest to see oil prices rise so high as to induce immediate recession worldwide - which would cause oil demand to drop and possibly abort this commodity supercycle.
But yes, I don't see the possibility of the supercycle ending short of a severe induced recession, although higher food prices are going to start showing up in 3 months? Along with higher transport costs etc...

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 14 2022 16:13 utc | 46

That makes a lot of sense, Micron. I play whack a mole on various sites, and that is one mole I wasn't sure how to whack. there is such an information shitstorm, it's hard to keep track.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 16:15 utc | 47

"... Bernays and the guy that sold Rockefeller as a friend of the working man after the Ludlow Massacre were unfortunately far more successful."
pretzelattack@32

The guy in question, who whitewashed Rockefeller, was Mackenzie King the future and long serving Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau's inspiration and one of the great founders of the Liberal Party.

Posted by: bevin | Mar 14 2022 16:15 utc | 48

WJ@42
This seems to be very likely. What makes this particularly dangerous is that the President seems to be close to complete disintegration. This happened to Wilson too.

Posted by: bevin | Mar 14 2022 16:20 utc | 49

Posted by: WJ | Mar 14 2022 16:03 utc | 42

How do you keep NATO (US) war against Russia in Europe? US -Russia war is THE nuclear war, and US knows well they have no escalation advantage, on the contrary. Otherwise they would install a no fly zone over Ukraine. All the MSM rhetoric is serving to hide the fact the king has no clothes.

Posted by: Milos | Mar 14 2022 16:23 utc | 50

Here is an interesting juxtaposition of 2 articles

Payback Time: why Saudi Arabia and UAE refused to talk to Joe Biden

Obviously while this is a cataclysm for some, it’s a windfall for others. Two countries that benefit significantly are Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

...

But that still doesn’t explain the unprecedented defiance these two countries have shown to the United States. After all, in the past, for most part, both countries adjusted oil production, and hence prices, to suit US foreign policy. For example, in 1986, it was Saudi and Emirati oversaturation of the market that sent oil prices to historic lows and bankrupted the Soviet Union, ultimately leading to its collapse.

Profits alone don’t explain this sudden defiance at a time of great need. This is where the importance of personalities in international relations comes in, specifically Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed, Joe Biden and the omnipresent shadow of former President Donald Trump.

...

Effectively, Trump ended up achieving more peace deals between Israel and its Arab neighbours than all previous presidents combined over the 70-odd year course of this conflict. This was a bitter pill to digest for Washington — Republican and Democrat alike, journalist and policy wonk alike.

...

Consequently, when Biden won in 2020, the retribution of DC insiders was swift and severe.

Within days, the UAE had its flagship deal — for the cutting edge stealth F-35 fighter — put “on hold” citing a “security review” (jargon for “we don’t trust you enough”). This was a critical piece of equipment that the UAE needed to bolster its deterrence against Iran. Worse still was the humiliation meted out to Mohammad bin Salman. He had been the target of a liberal boycott and name calling over the killing of Washington Post columnist and soft terrorism normaliser Jamal Khashoggi.

But once Biden was in power this turned to a formal boycott, never confirmed by official sources but enough “coincidence” to be real. This crossed a line in the Arab world where such impolite behaviour was a grave insult. Remember, this is a ruling family where even the mildest of curses would make kings Fahd and Abdulaziz faint. The consequences were not just a delegitimisation of the ruling family in the eyes of their subjects, but also an invitation to acts of civil disobedience and defiance which is a dangerous powder keg.

Contrast with CFR wannabe Dr. James Dorsey

Ukraine may force middle eastern rivals

For the past 18 months, Middle Eastern rivals – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Iran, and Israel – have sought to hedge their bets by diversifying their relationships with major powers, the United States, China, and/or Russia.

Increasingly, the rivals are finding out that the Ukraine conflict threatens to narrow their ability to hedge. The conflict has, irrespective of the outcome of the war, reduced not only big power to a two- rather than three-horse race but also opened the door to a Cold War-style international relations based on the principle of ‘you are with us or against us.’

Sadly that is the only statement of substance in the blog posting. No mention of the F35 deal. No mention of the demonization of MBS (deserved or not is irrelevant). No outside data except a reference to a neocon Zakaria article in the WaPo.

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 14 2022 16:24 utc | 51

Lostarmour.info ... Posted by: Petri Krohn | Mar 14 2022 15:57 utc | 39

Good site. Thanks.

Posted by: too scents | Mar 14 2022 16:25 utc | 52

The best solution for all would be Zelinsky cs accepting defeat, dismantling Privy Sektor and the Azov batallion and formally making Ukraina a neutral country.
By the way b, I seem to remember that you considered a Russian invasion not in the making. It seems you fell for Putin saying the same. I also fell for Putin's argument at the time. We both were tricked by this master player.

Posted by: Nutter | Mar 14 2022 16:26 utc | 53

Pundits are starting to notice the discrepancy between UN vote and actual sanctions action

Russia Ukraine West Global South and Sanctions at the Grauniad

In recent days, many commentators have pointed to a global map of the UN resolution to demonstrate the unity of the west and the world in taking on the Putin government.

But to make sense of the geopolitical consequences of the Russian invasion, we must look beyond the diplomatic theater of the general assembly to examine how these nations are actually engaged with the war in this phase of rapid escalation. And to do that, we should start with a very different map of the world – a map of global participation in the sanctions set against Russia by the United States and its allies.

The contrast between these maps could not be more striking. The US, the UK, Canada, South Korea, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, the EU: beyond this fortified coalition, very few nations have chosen to take part in the economic warfare set against the Putin government. On the contrary, many of the world’s largest nations – including China, India, Brazil, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, and even Nato ally Turkey – have refused to join in.

...

As new powers generate new poles, however, the options available to US neighbor nations are no longer restricted to compliance and resistance. A third option emerges: neutrality. “Neutrality does not mean indifference,” says Pierre Sané. “Neutrality means continuously calling for the respect of international laws; neutrality means that our hearts still go to the victims of military invasions and arbitrary sanctions never imposed on Nato countries.”

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 14 2022 16:28 utc | 54

META changes comment policy quite likely due to Russia's threat of legal action:

"Russia’s Prosecutor General filed a legal complaint with the nation’s courts demanding all Meta platforms be outlawed and the company itself be designated an extremist organization in Russia over allowing hate speech against the country’s nationals. Facebook was banned in Russia even before these developments over discrimination towards state-owned and state-affiliated Russian media outlets."

Almost universally worldwide, threatening to kill someone or a group is a crime, as is abetting that threat. Clegg, Zuckerburg and other META execs need to be sued globally to the extent that their golden goose dies.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 16:28 utc | 55

Remember the Maine?

Posted by: elmagnosr | Mar 14 2022 16:29 utc | 56

Posted by: Milos | Mar 14 2022 16:23 utc | 50


Look, I hope you are right. But I just think that neocons perceive that a non-nuclear or even limited nuclear war between NATO and Russia that stays in Europe is BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME for US, and so they are going to agitate for that. Why do they perceive it as BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME?

1. It will ENSURE that Europe will not try to draw back sanctions against Russia for its own self-interest after the Ukrainian operation. If there is all-out war between Russia and NATO, US KNOWS that no European country (looking at you--France, Germany) will try to establish SOME KIND of economic/ strategic independence vis a vis the US in the coming years.

2. It will lead to a huge loss of NATO military equipment and bases in Europe, which will all need to be rebuilt. This means $$$$ for arms manufacturers, and a great way to protect a big part of the "base" of Washington politicians (their base are arms dealers) during the upcoming recession/stagflation.

Posted by: WJ | Mar 14 2022 16:30 utc | 57

I think it was Hearst who said "if you want a war, I'll give you a war".

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 16:31 utc | 58

Sounds like the Russian failed invasion is actually doing very well then.

Posted by: Michael Droy | Mar 14 2022 16:32 utc | 59

limited nuclear war between NATO and Russia
Posted by: WJ | Mar 14 2022 16:30 utc | 57

Pretty sure the first use of nuclear weapons in war will be in space.

Posted by: too scents | Mar 14 2022 16:36 utc | 60

thanks everyone...

further to milo and wj's comments, another possibility is a false flag attack on a nato country which would engage nato... obviously the usa wants nato to continue... how do they pull off a false flag here? how about bombing just inside poland? the hit yesterday was only about 25 kilometers away on the mercenary hotel...

the usa needs to justify nato and it is having a hard time doing it as it presently stands... a false flag possibility is making it look like russia bombed poland...

frankly these planners are complete insane and bonkers, but if the end game is as @ wj says at point 2 - that would be ticket for another huge outlay of cash for rebuilding - war with nato and russia... i hope they are not that insane, but i can't rule it out given everything else that has brought us to this point..

Posted by: james | Mar 14 2022 16:39 utc | 61

WJ

I didn’t think you can grasp the idea of a nuclear war? There is no “limited nuclear war located in Europe”, this is childish reasoning. Pentagon knows much better.

Posted by: WJ | Mar 14 2022 16:39 utc | 62

I just want to repeat what I reported in a thread on 7 March:
Ukraine claimed at a hearing before the International COurt of Justice on 7 March that Russia was preparing a chemical false flag for which it would blame the Ukranian side.
At the hearing Ukraine accused Russia of massive war crimes and of causing grave environmental risks and a possible environmental disaster of a epic proportions.
There is no doubt that something is cooking.

Posted by: JB | Mar 14 2022 16:39 utc | 63

62 is posted by me

Posted by: Milos | Mar 14 2022 16:40 utc | 64

"Ukraine's Zelensky To Address Full US Congress"
I threw my TVs, CNN, etc., in 2003. But this mishapen hilarity tempts me like no other. Mel Brooks 'nationalistic" uniforms?

Posted by: elmagnosr | Mar 14 2022 16:41 utc | 65

so there are no biolabs,
there are biolabs but only defensive, that could never be used as offensive. [...]

Posted by: dersu-uzala | Mar 14 2022 15:16 utc | 17

I observed this scheme during Iraq War II. Short version of official USAian truth:

We do not torture, we never do. And all those people are the worst of the worst.

Perhaps shorter: We do not torture, and they all deserve it.

------------

A little sanity check: if the laboratories were for benign work, they would publish results and were not secret. Compared with much maligned virology laboratory in Wuhan.

A quibble: companies have "trade secrets" and tightly control what research results they disclose. But normal public funding requires disclosure of results, methods etc., especially in biomedical fields.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Mar 14 2022 16:43 utc | 66

It's hard to say that the Western media were "deceived" by the attack on an empty hospital. Rather, they are trained to accept official pronouncements and not to dig deep or ask challenging questions. Does that sound like deception or participation in deception of their audience?

Posted by: Rob | Mar 14 2022 16:43 utc | 67

Aha!! There's at least one person in the West with honor, "Norwegian sports chief resigns over ban on Russians":

"A board member of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports has said he is standing up for his Russian colleagues by resigning following the decision to ban athletes from competition because of the attack on Ukraine.

"Former national champion cross-country skier and ski orienteer Oyvind Watterdal does not want to be associated with the move to ban Russians and Belarusians following an appeal by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to leaders across sports."

The IOC needs a very deep purging, as do many so-called international sports organizations.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 16:44 utc | 68

Germany has certainly got the message on arms supplies.

"Germany will no longer divulge details of its weapons shipments to Ukraine, government spokesman Wolfgang Buechner told reporters on Monday, according to the Associated Press. The policy of secrecy will extend to switching off livestreams from the country’s highways, and comes after Russia said it will treat Western arms shipments into Ukraine as “legitimate targets.”"

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 14 2022 16:47 utc | 69

I think Sullivan made a major mistake by threatening Chinese companies with sanctions in case China would seek to circumvent US sanctions on Russia.

Chinese culture is all about saving face. If you want to get something out of any Chinese person you have to build a bridge for them to agree with you and give something in return. If China now simply bows down to the US, it would lose face and recognize US dominance. It seems like Sullivan is doing that on purpose to make sure China sticks to Russia.

Global Times, the outlet the CCP usually uses to communicate with the West, now asks: Does the US think it is God?

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202203/1254841.shtml

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 14 2022 16:47 utc | 70

For those barflies reading German a new interview (publishing date - tomorrow) in a Swiss journal with Jacques Baud may be of interest
https://zeitgeschehen-im-fokus.ch/de/newspaper-ausgabe/nr-4-vom-15-maerz-2022.html?fbclid=IwAR3ZvIPeFqwXKGRqJPVMzTG1nw2DgAgdBjJRLywus3USepS4yHO-evva8J8
He describes the way towards the war/operation/intervention

Posted by: BG13 | Mar 14 2022 16:53 utc | 71

@ karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 16:44 utc | 68

Thank you for reporting that. An island of integrity in a sea of hypocrisy.

Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 14 2022 16:54 utc | 72

Jörgen Hassler has left the building... no more fsb false flag talk, lol...

@ Piotr Berman | Mar 14 2022 16:43 utc | 66 - great quote and summary of the wests approach!!

"We do not torture, and they all deserve it." complete bullshit, but it looks okay on paper.... meanwhile - the torture continues -

UK denies Julian Assange’s extradition appeal usa-uk 2 peas in a pod..

Posted by: james | Mar 14 2022 16:54 utc | 73

it would be nice if Magnus Carlsen would make a similar gesture in chess over FIDE's ban on Russian players. Right now I think they still let Russian players play, but they can't have a Russian flag.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 16:55 utc | 74

@ karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 16:44 utc | 68... gee... someone with a backbone.... thanks for that...

Posted by: james | Mar 14 2022 16:57 utc | 75

@ Rob | Mar 14 2022 16:43 utc | 67... it is intentional.. the msm carry water for the intel agencies all the time... what part don't you get?

Posted by: james | Mar 14 2022 16:58 utc | 76

Russian MOD reporting that Mariupol is free of Nazis!

http://thesaker.is/mod-russia-meeting-of-the-joint-coordination-headquarters-for-humanitarian-response-in-ukraine/

Posted by: Milos | Mar 14 2022 16:59 utc | 77

On escalation to nuclear war. As both Putin and Lavrov have patiently noted, such talk is only coming from the West. Russia long ago announced what it would target first in such an eventuality--Washington DC, London and Brussels and other known Outlaw hideouts--they will not be allowed to escape the consequences of their actions. Currently, NATO has zero ability to defend against the Hypersonics that would be employed in such an event as described above. NATO also has zero ability to defend against Russia's ICBMs and SLBMs, while Russia has some ability to defend against NATO ICBMs and SLBMs. Russia remains the only nation practicing nuclear civil defence for its citizenry--AND they still carry out drills, one being done recently. Furthermore, we don't know where China stands on this issue, but I don't think it's possible to remain neutral once the ICBMs start flying.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 17:00 utc | 78

Anyone who thinks that Russia will allow the USA to escape the consequences of a 'limited nuclear war' is engaged in magical thinking.

As regards, the 'imminent' false flag event, I'd expect it before Zelensky's zoom call with the US Congress on Wednesday to beg again for a 'no-fly zone.'

Posted by: gottlieb | Mar 14 2022 17:01 utc | 79

O/T but important I think.

"The UK Supreme Court on Monday rejected Julian Assange’s appeal of the decision to extradite him to the US, where the WikiLeaks co-founder faces espionage charges. It is now up to Home Secretary Priti Patel to authorize the extradition."

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 14 2022 17:02 utc | 80

google translate still works for russian language... when is that going to end?? i thought they were all trying to erase russia from the planet...

"The head of the Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, made a statement about another crime committed by Ukrainian militants. Parts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and terrorist battalions are blocking the delivery of humanitarian aid to the civilian population of the republic. This applies primarily to the liberated territories of Donbass.

The head of state told the journalists of the Russia 24 channel that Ukrainian formations were preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid. They also prevent those who are trying to move to a safer place on their own. Humanitarians are worried that the collected aid may simply not reach those “who need it – to civilians” because of such a blockage.

According to Pushilin, the paramilitary units of the Ukrainian militants have exhausted their stocks of ammunition, ammunition and provisions. “Peaceful citizens fear that humanitarian supplies will go to the national battalions,” RIA Novosti quoted the politician as saying.

Toward noon, Ukrainian terrorists launched a Tochka-U strike in the center of Donetsk, killing more than 20 people and seriously injuring dozens.

Earlier today it became known that after the shelling of the Donetsk mine named after A.F. More than 80 miners found themselves underground. Rescuers are already working to evacuate people to the surface.

- from anna news link in russian..

Posted by: james | Mar 14 2022 17:04 utc | 81

oh shit, Priti Patel will undoubtedly do so.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 17:04 utc | 82

Similar to what others say maybe yet another false flag has already been attempted? For sure if numerous strange or unusual deaths start to crop up in the capital of Croatia in the following weeks and months.

Some idle thoughts about that drone crashing (and perhaps more) close to Zagreb.

What are the chances of a stray/accidental drone hitting Zagreb from Ukraine? Not only the precise direction but also the correct range? Essentially zero.

That makes it deliberate.

I'm sure both the Russians and NATO know much more than they're saying. The Russians seem more than happy to let NATO either continue to embarrass themselves or to incriminate themselves on the matter. This pretty much tells us all we need to know.

Regardless of that there's the following.

If it is true that the drone only strayed into Romanian airspace for a very short time it limits the possible entry and exit locations of the drone through their airspace to northwestern Romania.

Looking at the map this on its own already makes it very unlikely that it was launched from Russian-controlled territory or from the DPR or the LPR.

If it is supposed to have done so the drone would have needed to make a very long detour.

Add to this that looking at the map it is somewhat surprising that it flied through Romanian airspace at all.

Even more so if it is hypothetically supposed to have made a long detour before eventually hitting a far off city with some precision, in that case it would have had absolutely no valid reason to enter Romanian airspace at all.

Would we have heard anything about it if it flew over Moldova? I don't think the Romanians could resist saying so if that was the case.

Thus assuming it didn't that further narrows the likely locations of the launch in Ukraine. All well within nazi territory.

The drone seems to be a perhaps very badly executed attempt at a false flag aimed at causing civilian deaths in a NATO country.

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 14 2022 17:04 utc | 83

Posted by: Milos | Mar 14 2022 16:40 utc | 64

I do not believe in a "limited nuclear war." I am saying the neocons--Blinken, Nuland, Sullivan--appear to believe (1) that NATO can go to war without the US homeland being harmed; (2) that limited nuclear strikes are a possibility in this conflict.

I think these ideas are crazy. I am just saying that, however crazy they are, I believe there is enough evidence to warrant at least the hypothesis that some people in the Biden White HOuse hold them.

Posted by: WJ | Mar 14 2022 17:04 utc | 84

Posted by: Micron | Mar 14 2022 15:56 utc | 38

A sudden crumbling of the UA army sounds like a realistic assessment but... unfortunately French resources are all behind paywalls, the French are making a big mistake, their language is on the wane. The yahoo article in French is open but... yahoo as is expected promotes the possibility of a WMD attack and all the other propaganda points that all western MSM is promoting. So far today our paper of reference in Spain does not have a simple mention of the cluster bomb attack in downtown Donetsk, fair and balanced as they say.

Posted by: Paco | Mar 14 2022 17:10 utc | 85

Observing how the West's game works I suspect Sullivan's attack is not aimed at China, but at India. Looking at IndianPunchline, it appears the US is really pouring the screws to that country's leadership.

The overall strategy is to chip, chip, chip away at all supporting systems.

https://www.indianpunchline.com/india-should-quit-quad-now/

Posted by: Michael.j | Mar 14 2022 17:10 utc | 86

@86 Michael.j

That's "putting"'

Posted by: Michael.j | Mar 14 2022 17:12 utc | 87

So the real news as posted above is that Mariupol is liberated. I shall celebrate this today. The west plays with words, fake news and false flags, and this is what they will be known for. Russia changes paradigms, and the liberation of Mariupol will ripple throughout Ukraine.

It was the Novorossian forces and the Chechens who gave their blood for this - and have now shown that even the toughest town can be cleansed. Good. Perhaps Kharkov is next?

~~

In the end, because of this success and the war crimes that Russia has meticulously recorded and will publish throughout Ukraine, I think the majority of Ukrainian people will come to see the Russians as the liberators, and the Nazis as the insanely cruel filth that they are, and as they have been acting. This is the crucial requirement for Russia - to establish the mind of Ukraine.

All that matters, I think, is who constitutes the new government. The new government of Ukraine will have Russian backing to destroy all the influence and last trace of the Nazis. Ukraine will be cleansed, and form a border against Europe, where Nazi stay-behind terror groups may flourish.

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 14 2022 17:14 utc | 88

Posted by: WJ | Mar 14 2022 17:04 utc | 84

I guess you are right for numerous clueless politicians in the US. Lindsey Graham wold probably press all the buttons if he could.

Posted by: Milos | Mar 14 2022 17:18 utc | 89

@ Michael.j | Mar 14 2022 17:10 utc | 86

that is an especially hard hitting article from M. K. BHADRAKUMAR..... basically the bully is completely exposed.. how does india want to respond to it??

Posted by: james | Mar 14 2022 17:18 utc | 90

@ Grieved | Mar 14 2022 17:14 utc | 88

this is from an anna news press release much earlier today... note what is said here..

"15:45 Kadyrov invited the Ukrainian security forces who settled in Mariupol to surrender before the evening

The Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are in Mariupol, must surrender before the evening of March 14. This statement was made by the head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov in his Telegram channel.

“I once again urge those who are in Mariupol to surrender urgently, otherwise it will be too late in the evening. We will provide you with security. There are 5,000 of our best Chechen fighters around and inside Mariupol. Make at least once a man's step, for the sake of civilians and the city. I say again in the evening it will be late,” Kadyrov wrote."

Posted by: james | Mar 14 2022 17:21 utc | 91

China speaks for the world, "'World Doesn't Need New Cold War': Chinese Envoy to UN Speaks Against Global Confrontation", and he's 100% correct. Only one nation's interests are served in such a promotion--the Outlaw US Empire's--as it desperately seeks to retain its illegal hegemony.

Some commentators have seen and admitted that what's happening in Ukraine is a proxy war between Russia and the Outlaw US Empire since the Empire directs all NATO actions and those of its vassals despite what Croatia might say. That's why I found Ryabkov's words reposted @35 above important. Again without emphasis:

"The issue now is to provide for reaching the aims, which were set by our authorities before launching a special military operation."

Rollback of NATO to 1997 status is the main aim after denazifying Ukraine. The Empire is now bolstering its garrisons within the first four nations that aim will address--Poland and the Baltics. What then needs to be "provided" to reach that aim? Conditions specific to obtaining the aim via negotiations? And what might they be?

IMO, the overall confrontation between NATO (meaning Outlaw US Empire primarily) won't end until the aims of Russia's quest are accomplished, hopefully without wider warfare.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 17:29 utc | 92

Beware the Ides of March

Posted by: librul | Mar 14 2022 17:33 utc | 93

Zelensky to address US Congress?

Perhaps he'll perform his cover of Bohemian Rhapsody...

Speaking of musicals, do you think he'll be costumed as Teyve?

Posted by: vinnieoh | Mar 14 2022 17:35 utc | 94

c1ue | Mar 14 2022 16:28 utc | 54

As I have pointed out before, these are almost exactly the "High Income Countries"
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/High_income_country_economies_by_world_bank_2015.png/1024px-High_income_country_economies_by_world_bank_2015.png

Posted by: Keith McClary | Mar 14 2022 17:37 utc | 95

This seems fairly predictable.
There is no way that NATO is not getting caught up in this. NATO is unable to prevent it if it wanted to.
The intervention will start small and grow in scope and intensity. How could rational people with any world experience expect otherwise.
It will continue to escalate until the "sovereigns" are forced to confront their masters.
The resort to nuclear is a non argument for juvenile minds. It could happen but no one wins in that senario.
Putin is under playing this, I think that is a bad choice but hoping to be proven wrong.

Posted by: jared | Mar 14 2022 17:39 utc | 96

Posted by: BG13 | Mar 14 2022 16:53 utc | 71

Thanks for the refresshing perspective from a Swiss military officer. Hard to disagree with the main points.

Posted by: Boo | Mar 14 2022 17:44 utc | 97

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 17:29 utc | 92

I agree, but I don’t see any wider warfare happening. Russian conventional military domination over Europe will be overwhelming once they position themselves at Ukraine’s western borders (the judoka move). Russia holds energy rope around European neck and will definitely use it to break NATO (nato with small letters might remain just for the facade sake). US will be pushed not in Europe but elsewhere (Iranian Mosul rocket attack gives you a flavour). Hopefully neocon leaders in Europe (chiefly Macron and Sholz will disappear).

Posted by: Milos | Mar 14 2022 17:44 utc | 98

@36 Peter AU1

I agree re: the Chechens / urban units... brought in because that is the natural response to UA using urban battlegrounds, and RF response with specialist infantry is straightforward and doesn't have any other implications to me. Sorry if that wasn't more clear.

As for UA forces escaping, in my nonexpert opinion, I don't see why UA forces near DNR LOC couldn't evacuate if they wished, but without equipment. Counterfactual so kind-of a moot point, but in principle could be at least two ways. (1) By allowing a more serious flow of refugees, dropping uniforms, and joining the refugees, and (2) I suspect RF forces would be willing to negotiate safe passage as has happened in past war, e.g. if UA units offered to march out, in uniform but without the tanks artillery etc. Pretty sure RF would actually be very relieved by any chance to do this for the sake of the local population, and possibly were hoping for it to happen more often than it has so far. But the parts of UA army facing these situations, at least those who control it, appear more fanatical than in 2014-2015. I hope to be proven wrong in the coming weeks.

Posted by: ptb | Mar 14 2022 17:45 utc | 99


CAESAR:
Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry “Caesar.” Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.

SOOTHSAYER:
Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR:
What man is that?

BRUTUS:
A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

CAESAR:
Set him before me; let me see his face.

CASSIUS:
Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.

CAESAR:
What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again.

SOOTHSAYER:
Beware the ides of March.

CAESAR:
He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass.

As you recall, Caesar was slain during a meeting of the Senate.

Posted by: librul | Mar 14 2022 17:45 utc | 100

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